BPA in Plastics and Coatings: Tips to Remove, Replace, and Restore

This article marks the third in our series on Common Household Chemicals to Avoid, following pesticides and formaldehyde. And please remember! This series on reducing chemical exposure is designed to put you in a position of power instead of ignorance. Knowledge enables us to make informed choices that can make a huge difference in our health and that of those we love. We all cast our votes each time we shop, and you will see in this article an example of the power of the consumer.

BPA: A BRIEF HISTORY

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a stealth chemical with a long history that would not even be a matter of discussion today if human health had been a priority in industry.(1) Chemists created BPA in 1891 and it was first recognized to have estrogenic activity by Edward Charles Dodds in the 1930’s.(2) At that time, BPA was passed over as a pharmaceutical hormone with the invention of diethylstilbestrol (DES) which was later taken off the market when it was linked to reproductive cancers. The similar toxic properties now confirmed for BPA were not even considered in the 1950s when it began to be used in the commercial production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Now, BPA, a known endocrine disruptor,(3) is one of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide, with over 6 billion pounds produced each year. It is not only found in BPA-based plastics and resins, but studies show that it is present in most everyone’s body (4) (including the fetus) in the United States.(5)

SOURCES & HEALTH EFFECTS OF BPA EXPOSURE

BPA is considered a worldwide ubiquitous chemical and has become one of the most widely studied chemicals on the planet. It is used in epoxy resins and in hard clear nearly unbreakable plastics called polycarbonate. BPA may be found in reusable water bottles, plastic table ware, lids, bottle tops, coffee makers, food and storage containers, linings of food and beverage cans, epoxy resins, dental sealants, medical equipment, cash register receipts, linings of water supply pipes, CDs, DVDs, sports equipment, computers, and recycled paper products such as paper plates, toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins. Scientific studies have linked BPA to a range of health effects including, endocrine disruption (decreased sperm production in men, early puberty in girls, fertility issues, greater chance of miscarriage, endometriosis, stimulation of early mammary gland development, and ovarian dysfunction), obesity, heart disease, thyroid disruption, neurological effects, cancer, insulin resistance, diabetes, food tolerance issues, decreased cognitive function due to prenatal exposure, and chromosomal errors in the developing fetus causing spontaneous miscarriages and genetic damage.

The BPA Controversy

Despite numerous studies revealing the dangers of BPA exposure, there is continuing debate(6) among the scientific community and industry about the safety of BPA, not unlike controversies surrounding tobacco and hand sanitizers. In 1976, Congress passed the first law to regulate industrial chemicals with the Toxic Substances Control Act, and BPA was one of 62,000 chemicals “grandfathered” in and presumed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency with no testing. But in 1997, studies showed BPA to be toxic at levels way below the standard set by the EPA and Fred vom Saal found that very low level exposure to BPA harms the prostate.(7) In 2003 and 2004, a national health survey by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) found BPA in over 93% of 2,517 urine samples from people age 6 and older.(8)

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) came back in 2008 to allay fears by stating that BPA was safe for use in plastic food containers, linings of food and beverage cans, and even containers for liquid infant formulas.(9) The American Chemical Council stated that products made with BPA have been proven safe, even for young children.(10) The debate continues with many studies from academic labs that found harmful effects of BPA at levels of exposure far below the government’s BPA safety standards. Even still, in January 2010 the agency announced it was standing by its 2008 conclusion that BPA is safe for adults and infants and that families should not change their use of infant formula or food. However, they also suggested that if people desire to investigate BPA-free options, they should.(11) Despite these assurances, consumer pressure and boycott of products with BPA led manufacturers of baby bottles and sippy cups to voluntarily remove BPA from their products. In July 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (12) ruled that baby bottles and children’s drinking cups could no longer contain BPA, but took no action on the controversial chemical’s continued widespread use in food cans and other products. The debate continues on as the FDA currently holds fast to its opinion that BPA is safe at the current levels occurring in foods.(13)

SOURCES OF BPA TO REMOVE & REPLACE

Avoiding plastics altogether isn’t practical. But removing BPA-containing products that come in contact with our food and water, go into our mouths, or come in intimate contact with our bodies is. This is especially important for babies and young children. It’s also important to know that BPA is present as an SVOC in dust inside of our homes, so the best remedy is to vacuum weekly with a HEPA vacuum. You can also try the Branch Basics Deep Clean to thoroughly remove the SVOCs in your living space.

LIQUID CONTAINERS

Water

Fact: The longer water sits in plastic, the more BPA leaches into it, especially if heated. And using distilled or reverse osmosis water actually increases the issue.

Tip: Avoid plastics #7 and #3 and always store and drink water in glass.(14)

Taking proactive, preventative charge of your family’s health is empowering, exciting and potentially life-changing. You can make a difference. By removing replaceable items and all food/drink containers that contain BPA and vacuuming regularly, you significantly reduce your family’s daily exposure to this insidious and harmful chemical. And every step you take helps create a safe haven of your home, enabling those you love to use their energy for rejuvenation and healing instead of detoxifying. As always, we’re honored to have you join us and discover the power of pure!

is a Texas-based Environmental Consultant, Building Materials Specialist, and co-founder of Branch Basics. She is on a mission to inspire, motivate and empower people with information that will enable them to take proactive charge of their health and experience the transforming power of eating real food and creating a truly health home. She lives in the Hill Country with her husband and enjoys playing the piano, spending time outdoors and visiting her grandchildren.

This is really informative and scary! Thank you for the links and all the information. Much appreciated! The sad thing is, with a 10 year old, some of the things we’ve already done unintentionally can’t be reversed. There is always now and going forward to make better, well-informed choices. Thank you again.